Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-04-29

an errand. but the red orb disappeared, /,
the shadows Of evening fell, and heard
nothing of him. I knew then that he
would not come at all, as 1t would be
risking his life to enter the jungle after
sundown.
The pool was in the center ola cleared
space about half an acre in extent, and
the ground was uneven. As there was
no such thing as creek or rivulet in
the neighborhood, the pool must have
been formed by spring which bubbled
up among the rocks. Dai kness had
scarcely come when the moon came up
TO make the cleared space almost ms
light as day, and about the same time
the wild beasts began to move about. |
could hear them snarling and growing
on all sides, and located jsguar In =
tree not far removed from mine by his
con tinual snarling At something in the
jungle. moved about TO get u better
look, and suddenly lost my grasp on the
gun, and had the modification of hear
ing it strike the ground below with a
heavy crash. My idea was to get pos
session Of it again as soon as possible,
and had descended at least half way
when there was a snarl from the roots
Of the tree which brought my hair on
emu. recognized the presence Of q
tiger, who might have been waiting
there for five minutes for all l knew.
AS hurried back to my perch | heard
his sharp claws tearing at the bark, and
! was truly thankful for the knowledge
that he could not climb. As reached
my perch | drew my knife as the only
weapon left me, and the tiger, feeling
that had escaped him for the moment,
walked out into the bright moonlight
with deliberate step. looked up at me
with low growl, and then stood at the
edge of the pool and Tapped the water.
He was engaged at this when l heard a
loud "woof" /! from the jungle, and the
next instant q rhinoceros broke cover
and came charging at the tiger with a
rush that would have knocked down n
stone wall. His movement proved that
he was a bad rhinoceros, and IL was
probably this fellow who had annoyed
and excited the jaguar.
The tiger had warning enough as the
big beast came across the open, and he
stood in his tracks until thought he
would be run down before he moved a
foot. Then he lightly sprang aside,
and the rhinoceros crashed into the
pool, out on the other side, and came
numbering back with scarcely halt In
his gait. The tiger was waiting for him
about twenty feet from the edge of the
basin. He VAS crouched for a spring.
and his tail moved In a menancing way.
The big beast uttered another "woof"
and went for him with head down and
teeth grinding. Just at tho right In.
slant the tiger rose and sailed right
over his enemy like ball curving in
the air, and the rhinoceros passed on
for thirty feet before he could check
himself. Again the tiger was In wait
ing, and now he uttered n continuous
purring, as the affair was great sport to
him. AS soon as the rhinoceros got
eyes on him he charged again, and this
time the tiger lighted on his back and
clung there. The big fellow stood still
for moment, and then began gallop-
ing around in u circle and giving utter.
ance to snorts Of rage. II struck me all
at once that ought to take advantage
of the situation to secure my gun. /
started to descend. but IL seemed that
the tiger lad his eye on me. He left
the back Of the rhinocerOs and came for
me with great bounds, and / made
haste back to my perch. The rhinoc-
eros followed him to the tree and for
ten minutes persevered Ia his attacks,
the tiger now growing and showing
his teeth and evidently becoming an
noyed. He several times leapej to the
back OF the beast and clawed at him In
the fercest manner, but doubt II he
inflicted any injury through the tough
hide. The rhinoceros stepped on the
stock Of my rife and crushed 1t, and i
knew then was doomed to an all.night
watch on the platform with only the
knife to defend myself.
After ten or fifteen minutes Of hard
work, without accomplishing anything
Ia the way OF besting the tiger, the
rhinoceros got some sense in his head
and moved on into the jingle, where be
thrashed about in an ugly way for a
long time. The tiger soon showed by
his actions that he wanted me very
badly. He uttered furious gIowls,
clawed at the bark of the tree, and made
several springs which brought him
within arms length Of the platform.
He had just fallen back frem one Of
these bounds " hen he uttered sound
80 unlike all others which had preceded
1t that my attention was at once at
trscted. made out In an instant that
he had been seized by a large serpept.
For aught knew, the snake may have
been curled on one Of the great lower
limbs OF my own tree. There were
plenty OF dead leaves and other refuse
under the tree, and the parties to the
struggle kicked up such clood Of stun
that could not always get clear view
of them. l mace out that the snake,
which was probably a boa. had succeeded
in getting turn or two around the
tiger, while the latter Was using bis
teeth and claws ia The nost vigorous
manner to free himself. They rolled
IT,. a. fang rnfnttfaa and